
16
TITHES AND OFFERINGS.
pardoned the sins of Mary, which had been griev-
ous, and her heart was full of love for her Saviour.
She had often heard him speak of his approaching
death, and she was grieved that he should meet
such a cruel fate. At great personal sacrifice she
had purchased an alabaster box of precious oint-
ment, with which to anoint the body of the Saviour
at his death. But she now heard many express
their opinion that he would be elevated to kingly
authority when he went to Jerusalem, and she was
only too ready to believe that it would be so.
She rejoiced that her Saviour would no longer be
despised and rejected, and obliged to flee for his
life. In her love and gratitude she wished to be
the first to give him honor, and, seeking to avoid
observation, anointed his head and feet with the
precious ointment, then wiped his feet with her
flowing hair. Her movements had been unob-
served by the others, but the odor filled the house
with its fragrance, and published her acts to all who
were present. Some of the disciples manifested
displeasure at this act, and Judas boldly expressed
his disapprobation at such vasteful extravagance.
Simon, the host, who was
kL
Pharisee, was influ-
enced by the words of Judas, and his heart filled
with unbelief. He also thought that Jesus should
hold no communication with Mary because of her
past life. " Judas, the prime instigator of this dis-
affection among those who sat at the table, was a
stranger to the deep devotion and homage which
actuated Mary to her deed of love."
We learn a very important lesson from this:
First, we appreciate Christ in proportion as we re-
alize our past sinfulness, and the blessing of pardon
which has come to us; second, our oflerings to
his cause show that appreciation; third, conse-
quently our offerings are a manifestation of the
appreciation of the Saviour as a sin-pardoning God
to us. In taking this view of the matter we might
well inquire, " How much owest thou my Lord ? "